FINALLY, WE ARE OPEN!
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
MISION UTICA - AYUDANDO A UN COLEGIO DESTRUIDO POR UNA INUNDACION POR YASMIN UDDIN
Misión Utica
Ayudando a Un Colegio Colombiano Destruido Por Una Inundación
Escrito por Yasmin Uddin, graduada de bachiller de
University School, Davie, Florida
Ayudar a los demás es un principio moral que yo tengo
muy cerca a mi corazón, especialmente cuando se trata de niños con necesidades.
En abril de 2011, una gran inundación ocurrió en el pueblo de Utica, Colombia,
destruyendo su colegio y dejando a cientos de personas sin casa. Mi madre, quien nació allá, supo de la
devastación a través de familiares que todavía viven allá. Cuando ella me conto
que lo niños de Utica se quedaron sin colegio, yo decidí ir hasta allá para ver
el daño y ver cómo podía ayudar.
En febrero del año pasado yo visite Utica y fui
testigo de la destrucción con mis propios ojos.
El colegio había quedado inhabitable.
El gobierno instalo un colegio temporal para los niños en tierra más
alta, donde antes quedaba la estación de ferrocarril. Salones de portátiles fueron instalados sobre
los carriles de los trenes y la estación de trenes se convirtió en la oficina
de administración. Sin embargo, el
colegio se quedo sin computadoras, ni libros, ni útiles escolares. Fue ahí cuando yo decidí iniciar “Misión
Utica”. Recopile la información que
obtuve durante mi viaje el pasado febrero y comencé a escribir cartas pidiendo
ayuda a diferentes agencias, amigos y familia.
Hice
una presentación a una organización de ayuda llamada “Friends of Humanity
International, Inc.” FHII es una
organización sin ánimo de lucro que ayuda a los que han perdido sus viviendas y
a personas que han sido víctimas de sufrido desastres naturales. Ellos han ayudado gente en Pakistán después que
un gran terremoto destruyo muchas casas.
También han ayudado a los haitianos después del terremoto ocurrido en su
isla. Hace poco también mandaron útiles escolares para las escuelas pobres en la isla de Trinidad.
FHII
pudo donar $7,500 a Misión Utica.
Con este dinero y el dinero que yo pude recolectar de otros donantes,
puede llevar 1,000 libras de materiales para el colegio, como lápices,
cuadernos, agendas, creyones, etc.… También pude comprar y llevar libros de
matemáticas y ciencias para los grados sexto a noveno. Con estos útiles
escolares planifique mi segundo viaje a Utica.
Llegue
a Bogotá, la capital de Colombia, el pasado Agosto. Muy pronto montamos todos los materiales en
una van y emprendimos viaje hacia Utica.
Utica queda aproximadamente 3 horas de Bogotá y solamente se puede
llegar por carretera. Me quede en Utica por
una semana mientras distribuía los materiales y ensenaba ingles a los
estudiantes. Cuando llegue a Utica, los
bomberos me ayudaron a transportar los materiales hasta el centro deportivo del
colegio, en donde hice la presentación de mi donación enfrente de los
estudiantes del colegio, padres, maestros, director, y el alcalde del
pueblo. La presentación fue
exitosa. Fui recibida con abrazos
abiertos. En una mesa mostré todos los
materiales que había traído para que todos los vieran. Los muchachos no podían esperar para recibir
los útiles! También hice una rifa de camisetas de “Misión Utica” a los
estudiantes para que pudieran vestirlas y también tuvieran un recuerdo de esta gran ocasión.
Durante
la semana fui a todas las clases y ensene ingles. Comencé con el primer grado y trabaje hasta
el grado once. Yo quería hacer la lección
divertida para los muchachos, por lo que
hice juegos educativos para que también aprendieran algunas frases de
ingles. El ultimo día que estuve en el
colegio, repartí los kits de materiales que había hecho para los niños. Mi momento favorito fue cuando estaba en el
segundo grado a punto de irme, una pequeña niña se me acerco y me dio un abrazo
dándome las gracias. Después vino un niño y de un momento a otro toda la clase
me estaba dando un abrazo.
Definitivamente, fue un momento que yo no voy a olvidar!
Viendo
que contentos los niños, maestros, y la administración se pusieron con mi vista
me hizo sentir muy bien y aumentaron mis ganas de seguir ayudando al
colegio. Estoy planeando volver al
colegio en Diciembre con la esperanza de lograr más donaciones para comprar más
libros y materiales. Le dio gracias a
FHI, Inc. Que hizo posible mi viaje e invito a otras otras organizaciones e
individuales que me ayuden en esta causa.
Si usted quiere donar o sabe de una organización que ayude a los necesitados,
por favor comuníquese conmigo al correo electrónico yasminauddin@gmail.com o mande un cheque dirigido a Friends of Humanity
International, Inc. RE: Mision Utica, al 833 Shotgun Road, Sunrise Florida
33326.
MISSION UTICA - REACHING OUT TO A COLOMBIAN SCHOOL DESTROYED BY A 2011 FLOOD
Mission Utica
Reaching
Out To A Colombian School Destroyed by a 2011 Flood
By:
Yasmin Uddin. A graduate of University School, Davie, Florida
Caring
for others is a moral principle I hold very close to my heart, especially when
it comes to children in need. In April
of 2011 a major flood occurred in the town of Utica, Colombia, destroying its
local school and leaving hundreds homeless.
My mother heard about this devastation from family that still lives
there. When she told me that the
children of Utica were left with no school, I decided I wanted to go there to
see the damage and how I could help.
Last
year I visited Utica and witnessed the destruction with my own eyes. The school was uninhabitable. The government set up a temporary school for
children on more elevated ground, where the old train station used to be. However, the school was left with no
computers, no textbooks, and no supplies.
That’s when I decided to initiate “Mission Utica”. I collected the information that I had
gathered from my trip and started writing letters asking for help from
different agencies, friends, and family.
I
made a presentation to an organization named Friends of Humanity International
Inc.. FHII is a non-profit organization that helps the homeless and people who
have been through natural disasters. They
helped the people in Pakistan after a huge earthquake which destroyed many
homes. They also helped Haitian
residents after the earthquake. Recently
they sent supplies to schools in Trinidad that were in need. FHII donated $7,500 to Mission Utica. With this money and the money that I was able
to collect from other donors, I was able to buy 1000 pounds worth of school
supplies such as pencils, journals, folders, etc… I was also able to buy math
and science textbooks for grades 6 through 9.
With these supplies I planned a trip to revisit Utica.
I
arrived in Bogota, Colombia’s capital, last August. Shortly after we loaded a
van with all the supplies and off I went to Utica. Utica is approximately three hours from
Bogota and you can only get there by road.
I stayed in Utica for one week while I delivered the supplies as well as
taught English to the students. When I
arrived in Utica, the local firemen helped me transport the supplies to the
school’s gymnasium, where I presented my donation in front of the school’s
students, parents, teachers, principal, and the town’s mayor. The presentation went great. I was greeted with open arms. A table
showcasing what I had brought was set up so everyone could see. These kids couldn’t wait to get the supplies!
I also raffled Mission Utica t-shirts to the children so they could wear them
to remember this grand occasion.
Throughout
the week I visited every class and taught English. I started with 1st grade and
worked my way up to 11th grade. I wanted to make the class enjoyable
for the kids, so I made up games to play that would be educational as well as
help them learn a few phrases in English.
The last day I was at the school, I distributed the kits I made for the
children. My favorite moment happened when I was in the 2nd grade
class about to leave, and a little girl gave me a thank you hug, then a little
boy came, and the next thing I knew the whole class came to give me a group
hug. It was definitely a moment I will
never forget!
Seeing
how happy the children, teachers, and the administration were, made me both
feel great and want to continue helping the school. I am planning to revisit the school in
December with the hopes of gathering more donations to buy more textbooks and
supplies. I thank Friends of Humanity
international Inc. who made my trip possible, and urge other organizations and
individuals to get involved. If you
would like to donate or know of any organization that helps those in need,
please contact me at yasminuddin@gmail.com
or send a check made out to FHII, RE Mission Utica at 833 shotgun Road Sunrise,
FL 33326.
Pictured: Yamin’s favorite
moment of her trip, when the 2nd grade class gave her a surprised
group hug!.
DEP LAUNCHES PINTEREST FLORIDA PARK FIT BOARD
DEP LAUNCHES PINTEREST FLORIDA PARK FIT BOARD~Florida's state parks offer outdoor area for recreation and fitness activities ~ Rowing machines do not have views like this. Get out and add some vistas to your workout.
TALLAHASSEE – Bored with your regular workout? Tired of pricey gym fees, crowded workout rooms and sweaty equipment? Change up your fitness routine by venturing into a Florida State Park!
Check out the Florida Park Service’s newly launched Florida Park Fit Pinterest board, which provides residents and visitors with tips and locations to get out of the gym and into a park. The Florida Park Fit board is a perfect way to discover new exercise methods and ideas to change up your diet and fitness regimen.
Rather than staring at a treadmill in a crowded gym, you could be outside seeing interesting plants and rare wildlife, while burning calories and enjoying Florida's natural spaces. With 161 parks and 10 trails statewide, chances are there is a state park nearby that offers a variety of recreational and fitness opportunities.
"Connecting with nature is important for our sense of well being," said Florida Park Service Director Donald Forgione. "Enjoying outside activities with family and friends is a good way to exercise and gain fitness and have fun at the same time."
The Florida Park Fit board contains family-friendly activities, including information about playing Frisbee; snorkeling; canoeing and kayaking; stand-up paddleboarding and bicycling. For each activity, the Board includes pins about calories burned and places where that activity is offered.The Florida Park Fit board also includes tips for wellness, such as staying hydrated while you exercise and preparing healthy snacks.
Followers can expect to learn about activities and opportunities that are new and different. For instance, the Florida Park Fit board includes information about Stand Up Paddleboard Yoga at Amelia Island State Park in Jacksonville. Offered by park concessionaire Kayak Amelia, this activity, which combines paddleboarding and yoga, has been very popular.
To access the board, follow @FLStateParks on Pinterest, an online tool for collecting and organizing information. Nearly 50 million people use Pinterest globally in their lives and work. Highlights of different activities will be added to the Florida Park Fit Board every two weeks.
While on Pinterest, you should also follow DEP's Office of Aquatic and Managed Areas on Pinterest (@AquaticFlorida) for photos and information about Florida's Aquatic Preserves and National Estuarine Research Reserves.
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About Florida State Parks, Greenways and Trails
Florida’s 171 award-winning state park and trail properties have inspired residents and visitors with recreation opportunities and scenic beauty that helps to strengthen families, educate children, expand local economies and foster community pride. With 161 parks, 10 state trails, nearly 800,000 acres, 100 miles of beaches and more than 1,500 miles of multi-use trails, visit soon and often to enjoy Florida’s natural treasures. Download the official Florida State Parks Pocket Ranger® mobile app, available on iTunes and Android Market, to plan your trip and for an enhanced experience while visiting. For more information, visit www.FloridaStateParks.org
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